Therapies Based on Classical and Operant Conditioning Dr
Therapies Based on Classical and Operant Conditioning Dr Amina Muazzam 1 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Content �Classical and operant conditioning and its therapies �Classical conditioning �A version therapy �Systematic desensitization �Flooding �Critical evaluation in flooding 2 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Continued �Operant conditioning �Token economy �Counter conditioning therapy �Positive or negative reinforcements �Positive or negative punishment �Modelling therapy �Biofeedback therapy 3 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
�Behavioral therapies (also called behavior modification) are based on theories of classical and operant conditioning. The premise is that all behavior is learned; faulty learning (i. e. conditioning) is the cause of abnormal behavior. Therefore the individual has to learn the correct or acceptable behavior. �An important feature of behavioral therapy is its focus on current problems and behavior. 4 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Classical Conditioning �The theory of classical conditioning suggests a response is learned and repeated through immediate association. Behavioral therapies based on classical conditioning aim to break the association between stimulus and undesired response (e. g. phobia, additional etc. ). �Therapists also use classical conditioning to diminish and/or eliminate many types of unwanted behaviors. This includes addictive behaviors. 5 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Aversion Therapy �This process pairs undesirable behavior with some form of aversive stimulus with the aim of reducing unwanted behavior. �For example, alcoholics enjoy going to pubs and consuming large amounts of alcohol �Aversion therapy involves associating such stimuli and behavior with a very unpleasant unconditioned stimulus, such as an electric shock. 6 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Continued �The client thus learns to associate the undesirable behavior with the electric shock, and a link is formed between the undesirable behavior and the reflex response to an electric shock. �In the case of alcoholism, what is often done is to require the client to take a sip of alcohol while under the effect of a nausea-inducing drug. Sipping the drink is followed almost at once by vomiting. In future the smell of alcohol produces a memory of vomiting and should stop the patient wanting a drink. 7 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Critical Evaluation �There are two issues relating to the use of aversion 8 therapy. �First, it is not very clear how the shocks or drugs have their effects. �It may be that they make the previously attractive stimulus (e. g. sight/smell/taste of alcohol) aversive, or it may be that they inhibit (i. e. reduce) the behavior of drinking. �Second, there are doubts about the long-term effectiveness of aversion therapy. It can have dramatic effects in therapist’s office. Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Flooding �Flooding (also known as implosion therapy) works by exposing the patient directly to their worst fears. (S) He is thrown in at the deep end. For example a claustrophobic will be locked in a closet for 4 hours or an individual with a fear of flying will be sent up in a light aircraft. �Unlike systematic desensitization which might use in vitro or virtual exposure, flooding generally involves vivo exposure. 9 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Continued �Fear is a time limited response. At first the person is in a state of extreme anxiety, perhaps even panic, but eventually exhaustion sets in and the anxiety level begins to go down. �Prolonged intense exposure eventually creates a new association between the feared object and something positive (e. g. a sense of calm and lack of anxiety). It also prevents reinforcement of phobia through escape or avoidance behaviors. 10 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Critical Evaluation in Flooding �Flooding is rarely used and if you are not careful it can be dangerous. It is not an appropriate treatment for every phobia. It should be used with caution as some people can actually increase their fear after therapy, and it is not possible to predict when this will occur. �Wolpe (1969) reported the case of a client whose anxiety intensified to such as degree that flooding therapy resulted in her being hospitalized. 11 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Continued �Also, some people will not be able to tolerate the high levels of anxiety induced by therapy, and are therefore at risk of exiting therapy before they are calm and relaxed. This is a problem, as existing treatment before completion is likely to strengthen rather than weaken the phobia. �However one application is with people who have a fear of water (they are forced to swim out of their depth). It is also sometimes used with agoraphobia. 12 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Systematic Desensitization �Systematic desensitization is a type of behavioral therapy based on the principle of classical conditioning. It was developed by Wolpe during the 1950 s. This therapy aims to remove the fear response of a phobia, and substitute a relaxation response to the conditional stimulus gradually using counter conditioning. 13 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Continued �There are three phases to the treatment: �First, the patient is taught a deep muscle relaxation technique and breathing exercises. E. g. control over breathing, muscle detensioning or meditation. In the case of phobias, fears involve tension and tension is incompatible with relaxation. 14 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Continued �Second, the patient creates a fear hierarchy starting at stimuli that create the least anxiety (fear) and building up in stages to the most fear provoking images. The list is crucial as it provides a structure for therapy. �Third, the patient works their way up the fear hierarchy, starting at the least unpleasant stimuli and practicing their relaxation technique as they go. When they feel comfortable with this (they are no longer afraid) they move on to the next stage in the hierarchy. 15 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Operant Conditioning �Operant conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. Through operant conditioning, an individual makes an association between a particular behavior and a consequence (Skinner, 1938). Examples of therapies using the principles of operant conditioning include: 16 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Token Economy �Token economy is a system in which targeted behaviors are reinforced with tokens (secondary reinforces) and later exchanged for rewards (primary reinforces). �Tokens can be in the form of fake money, buttons, poker chips, stickers, etc. While the rewards can range anywhere from snacks to privileges or activities. For example, teachers use token economy at primary school by giving young children stickers to reward good behavior. 17 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Counter Conditioning Therapy �In Counter conditioning, a particular response to a certain stimulus is replaced by a new response. This new response is supposed to deter the person from the stimulus. �For example, a person may feel positive feelings towards smoking. Through a behavioral therapy technique they would learn to feel negatively about their smoking. 18 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Continued �Two techniques that are used in Counter conditioning are: �Aversion Therapy �Systematic Desensitization. �In aversion therapy the client is taught to experience negative in the presence of the stimulus, with the aim that the client will eventually feel repelled by the stimulus. 19 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Operant Conditioning �Operant conditioning can be described as a process that attempts to modify behavior through the use of positive and negative reinforcement. �Example 1: Parents rewarding a child’s excellent grades with candy or some other prize. �Example 2: A schoolteacher awards points to those students who are the most calm and well-behaved. Students eventually realize that when they voluntarily become quieter and better behaved, that they earn more points. 20 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Positive and Negative Reinforces �Positive reinforces are favorable events or outcomes that are given to the individual after the desired behavior. This may come in the form of praise, rewards, etc. �Negative reinforces typically are characterized by the removal of an undesired or unpleasant outcome after the desired behavior. A response is strengthened as something considered negative is removed. �The goal in both of these cases of reinforcement is for the behavior to increase. 21 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Positive and Negative Punishment �Punishment, is when the increase of something 22 undesirable attempts to cause a decrease in the behavior that follows. �Positive punishment is when unfavorable events or outcomes are given in order to weaken the response that follows. �Negative punishment is characterized by when an favorable event or outcome is removed after a undesired behavior occurs. �The goal in both of these cases of punishment is for a behavior to decrease. Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Modeling Therapy �The clients are asked to observe persons coping effectively in the situations that they find anxiety provoking. �This therapy is based on the work of Bandura (1969) and his basic principle is that people can change by simply watching models of other people successfully cope with the problems they face. �People have been helped to overcome such things as phobias and sexual disorders. 23 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
Biofeedback Therapy �Biofeedback involves a bodily function (such as heart rate or muscle tension) is monitored and the information is fed back to the client. �Through this process the client becomes better able to control the function. For example, they learn to relax to slow their heart rate or decrease muscle tension more effectively than they could relying on normal, un-amplified feedback about these functions. 24 Dr Amina Muazzam. . . LCWU 3/8/2021
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